Ship&#39;s hull construction



`une 27, i950 E. H. COOLEY SHIP'S HULL CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 14,. 1945 INVENTOR. Edge/ard H Cooley une 27, 1950 E. H. cooLEY smPs HULL CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1945 9 WAHM... ,W w w E l.

June 27, 1950 E. H. cooLEY SHIPS HULL CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheecss--Sheecl 5 Filed Sept. 14, 1945 June 27, 1950 E. H. cooLEY sHIP's HULL CONSTRUCTION 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed Sept. 14, 1945 willl'll oocooo booooo Patented June 27, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE snnrs HULL coNsfrrcUorroN Edward H. Cooley, West Newton, Mass. Application ySeptemberl, 1945, Serial No. 616,211

19Claims,

The present invention relates to ships lhull constructions and vmore particularly provides an improved type of hold structure for trawlers and the like by which a catch of sh may be stowed and unloaded with great facility and may loe-kept under refrigeration if desired.

According to present practices, freshly caught fish in either whole or gutted condition, are stowed in the holds of shing vessels, sometimes under refrigeration and sometimes without re-Y frigeration. The ordinary type of refrigeration is cracked, crushed or naked ice which is intermixed with the fish or spread in layers between them. The shortcomings of such methods as these are obvious and have long been tolerated by the industry despite considerable loss ,through spoilage inl warm weather, the high cost .of un-Y loading the fish by hand labor using shovels or pitchforls and baskets, and other factors.

The present invention provides a novel ship construction by which freshly caught fish are stowed in separate fixed or removable compartments or containers which form an integral part of the hull and its decking and from which the iish are removed by forcible discharge through a conduit or by a conveyor, or which can be detached from the hull and dumped.

An important feature of the present invention comprises providing for refrigeration of the fish in the compartments or containers by ,a refrigerant whichis circulated around the compartmentsA or containers in conductive contact With the fish, but not in direct contact with them.so that the sh are kept at low temperature and free from contamination such as `Commonly occurs under present practices.

vAnother important object is to provide means for stowing fish or similar lading in closed com partments containing a liquid in which the'iishH 2 constructed in accordance with one form of embodiment of the principlesof the invention;

Fig. 2; is a fragmentaryplan view of a deck` of the vessel partly broken awayto show the interior of the fish-holding receptables;

Fig, 6 is a detail perspective view showing the arrangement ofl the removable containers in the hull of the ship;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of one of the containers showing its,` relation to the separating frames, including the refrigerant passageways;

Fig.,5 is a perspective view of one of the removable Containers.;

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional View through a portion of a ships hull Showing a modied typey .of construction including xed compartments which are unloaded by use of a discharge conduit;

7 is. a similar View illustrating a further mQdiLl type .ofstructure,l in which xed compartments .are unloaded by a conveyor;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a still further modified type of .containenfrom which the fish are removed by means of an inner net;

Fg..9. is a View, partly in perspective and partly in ver-ticalsection, of the container of Fig. 8, showing .the ish and the net in place therein, with the container closed;

.Fig 1Q is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing a still further modified type of construction, in which xed compartments are arranged toY discharge intor an interposed wen Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be evident to those skilled in the art from the disclosure hereinaflelof certain preferred embodiments.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrateV the preferred embodiments which are dis,- closed in compliance with the patentl vstatutes merely for the purpose of exemplifying the` inf" vention and not with the intention oflimiting thescope of the .appended claims tothe specific illustrated embodiments,

`ljig.y `l is a diagrammatic plan view of a vessel from,l which the fishinay be removed through a hatchway; and

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic plan View of a Vessel provided with the compartments of Fig. 1.0.

Referring now tothe drawings and lrst to Fig.

1. the reference numeral I. designates generally' the hull of ,a hing vessel. Diagramrnatioally shown .at 2 and 3' are forward and after deck houses which may Cover Crew quarters, Operating machinery and the usual appurtenances of seasoinsv shine.. Diagrammatioally indicated at 4 as an entirety are the juxtaposed covers or lids 5 of a plurality of individual receptacles or con- Gainers 6,; nreierably .arranged in ySuch a wav .that al1 the Covers 0f the Series, are flush in the plane of the-ships deck.'

Each. cantainer ,6, in theembbdiment shawn on sheet l. of .the drawings. (Figs. 2 5.) is a tank or box,made of stout water-.tight boards or metal havinga closed bottom and side walls and being generally prismatic in shape, so that it is rectangular in cross .section Each container has an' 3 over-slung extreme top portion, which may be made' in the form of a right angular, outwardly` projecting shoulder or, as is preferred and as is shown in the drawing, in the form of inwardly and downwardly bevelled side and end walls. In` either case the container is adapted to be hung on a pair of complementally shaped horizontal side framing members 'I and a pair of similarly shaped transverse framing members 8, all rigidly fixed in the hull of the ship as part of its bracing structure.

stanchions 9, in the form of upright angle irons, are secured in the floor of the hull and to the intersections of the framing members 8 and 9, to stay the containers I which are adapted to lit reasonably snugly down into the guide ways formed by each set of four stanchions 9.

It will be appreciated that this construction provides a space II) completely surrounding each container 6 and separating it from thewall of each adjacent container. This space isvconvenv` iently made about as wide as the thickness-of the framing members I and 8 which s'urmount the stanchions 9, and all the spaces I in the hold are intercommunicatin'g.

The top of each container preferably includes a perimetrc marginal portion which is fixed to the side and end walls of the container, so that` in effect it is integral with those walls, andthis xed portion of each top is provided with a 'central opening having a cooperating closure plug II. The lading, which-will be fresh fish'r or the like, is stowed in the containers through the top openings, preferably with a quantity of liquid such as water brought up to a salt content ofv about three percent, with or'A without some bactericide, sterilizing agent, or preserving substance, such as sodium benzoate, in solution, as may be desired, and ,the plugs `II are'secured in place by any appropriate fastening means. I prefer to employ coarse interruptedscrew threads K for securing the plugs in place, so that they can be inserted and removed by va quarter or half 'turn of the cooperating threads, much like the action"v of a gun breech block.

If the lading in the containers is to be refrigerated, -a refrigerant, such as briney or the like, isy circulated through the spaces I0 between the containers by suitable pumping means mounted at any convenient location in the vessel, Aand the recirculated refrigerant is kept cold by any con#y ventional type of refrigerating machinery. The pumping and refrigerating machinery is shown` diagrammatically at A beneath the ,forward deck house 2 in Fig. 1, connected to a header B supplying ports in the forward bulkhead'of the hold, and` a return header is shown at C connected to similar ports in the after bulkhead of the hold and to return mains D through-which spent refrigerant is conducted back along the deck' or in the loilgesy tothe refrigerating and pumping machinery. 'All the machinery is conventional rand well known` and need not be particularly described.`

The xed portion of each top 5 is provided with one or more handles or eyes I2 for the receptionof hooks carried by a hoisting line by which each; container G may be lifted from its mounting be-f tween four of the stanchions 9 and may be low-.- ered back into place. Each Iplug II is similarly provided with a handle I3 and diametrically spaced sockets I4 for the reception of a tool like a Spanner wrench bywhich theplug may beY ro` tated into and out of closing relation with the top 5.

1t win be appreciated that with aii'the conf tainers 6 in place in the hold, a substantially flush deck structure is provided by their combined tops and the intervening framing members 'I and 8. It will also be evident that when fish or the like are to be stowed, it is only necessary to remove the several plugs I I to admit the sh. with or without water as has been explained. When the several plugs are restored to place, the lading is safely stowed and protected, and can be readily discharged ywhen the vessel arrives at port by pulling each container from its position and dumping v its contents through its top opening.

At this point it may be observed that by charg- Asince by pouring out the water the fish are more readily flushed outofythe containers, but, because the fish, not only is dumping greatly facilitated,

the fish-arenaturally of nearly the same specific gravity as the liquid, they are well buoyed up in it and those in the lowerportions of the containers are` not 4crushed or otherwise damaged by the weightof those above. The water in the containers also serves the' useful purposes of conducting cold tothe fish (or, more strictly, abstracting 3 heat therefrom and conveying it to the container y Walls and thence to the circulating refrigerant),

keeping the fish wet, and, in a preferred embodivment ofthe invention, distributing salt or other chemical treating, substances equally to all the 3o'- fish.

An important feature of the invention resides in the adaptability of the framing and stanchion arrangement to be used-for stowing fish or the like without the removable containers 6 and withmoved and pen-boards are set in place between oppositely yfacing stanchions so that these pen- I Y(boards dene lading spacesseparated from each other. The openings in the deck are then lled in with deck squares.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modification in which the stanchions and framing memberistructure hereinabove vdescribed is retained without change but in which the containers are permanently secured in place.` In this embodiment of the invention, each container or compartment I5 has a fixed bottom I6 provided with 'an opening I'I, and each compartment'top I8 has a central opening normally closed by a plugv I9l which may be made like A discharge conthe plug II of the container 5; duit, best made in the formV of a large diameter canvas hose 20,"has a flanged'end fitting 2| screw threaded or otherwise appropriately formed to troduced .through the bottom opening I1 from a pipe 23 which is connectedn to that opening and isV controlled by a valve 24..' Each plungerv 22 is provided with depending vedge flanges which t fairly snuglyagainst the'wallsl of the compartment so that the plunger willrise and fall without binding.v The it ofthe plunger is such that some of the water. introduced through pipe 23 will lpass the plunger and be discharged with the .sh through pipe 20, `thus `facilitating discharge of the solid'lading. If desired' or thought necessaryn holesy be. drilledl throughA the; pluners to.,

that a greatly increased flow of water will then.;

be had; through the plungers so as. ton-ushthelast ofthe nsh through the discharge conduit` 2.0...

Such valvedports, whichv are. not. showninfthe drawings, can beread-ly provided in ythe formof an opening in each plunger normally closed by a plate spring pressed acrossv the` bottom oiV the plunger, with pins passing upwardly through small perforations in the plunger and projecting from the plunger top surface. These, `nillszwill engage the compartment topand be thereby pushed down through the rising plunger to unseat the plate asthe water.- pressure continues, so that. a greatly increased ow of water will take place. through the open port and flush with it the last. of the sh from theA compartment.

The several pipes 23, one of which is connected to. the bottom of each compartment, may be ar-.. ranged as branches from a single main, and a, valve 24 will be provided at some convenient location on the deck or elsewhere to control the flow through each branch so that the compartments can be discharged independently and selectively asthe. conduit is moved from one to another.

Fig. '1 illustrates. a further modic'ation in which the compartments are permanently xed in position and discharged on to a conveyor, preierably one. of the endless belt type, which may lead directly up to the deck level or toy a marine leg or other vertical elevating means provided in a hatchway.

In this form of construction theV framing and stanchion elements are arranged asy hereinbefore described, and all the compartments are permanently xed in place, much like the compart, ments l5 of Fig. 6. However, all the compartments in one line, preferably those in a series extending along the longitudinal aXis of the ship, are. made more shallow than the other compartments, so that a tunnel is, provided beneath the line of shallow compartments. In Fig. 7 onev of the shallow compartments is shown at 25, and twov of the deeper compartments are shown at. 26. An endless belt conveyor 21, having conventional ights 28, is mounted in the tunnel 29 formed by the sides of the compartments 26 and the bottoms of the compartment 25.

All the compartments are providedwith normally closed openings through vwhich the sh may be discharged. Each shallow compartment has a port 3G in its bottom which is normally closed by a bottom plate slidably mounted on the under side of the compartment bottom and controlled by a handle 3l extending up through the top of the compartment. When this handle is operated, the port is opened and the sh in the compartment 25 fall on to the conveyor 21 for movement out of the hold. When all of the compartments 25 have thus been discharged, the adjacent compartments 25 will `be discharged. This is accomplished lby providing each of the compartments 26 with a port or opening 32 in its side wall which denes the tunnel 29 and by associating with this port a vertically slidable closure plate 33 operated by a handle 3,4 which extends up throughvthe, top of the compartment. As shown in Fig. 7, this construction may take the form of guideways at theyertoal. edges of, the

port 32 receiving the marginsof the plate 3b.

which is elevated, and lowered in the guidelviaysby rotation on a rod' 35. which is screwthread'edv.

into. thet plate. Otcourse, spec-incalhr, diierent.'

' closures and:v operatingmeans may be substituted' for those which. are herein disclosed simply as. recommended examples.y It will beobvious. that when4 the plateA 3.3; is elevate'd, as.- shown in Eig. '7a. sh will fall by,l gravity. through theport. 32 and be deposited on the. con-.f

veyor. 2.1. If the shi-p larg-e enough to. have more than one line` of deepcompartrnents 2li` pro: vided along.r either side of the tur-mel` 29., each compartment v216 which ntcrvenes between. they turmel. and .another compartment. 26. will have both otits sidewalls provided with ports. 3.2

'closure plates. 3.3. The yrst, intervening compartf.

ment is first discharged by opening its. port 321cm,

the tunnel; sida. Then, its port 3.2: on the `outboard side lessened and. the adjacent port. 32 oi. thefadioining outboard compartmentl 2.6 is also. opened. This provides a passageway for sh from the outer compartment throughthe. emntied intervening compartment.. and in. this way al1- the. compartments. are. successively olischarged.

Qi'voourse, in order to. exclude refrigerant: from.

the deep. compartments in such an arr@met.mentJVA lt .it flounfi that sono. few- IshA romain the bottoms o tho compartments., after ,flow by gravit ato the conveyor ceases., those last. toys remai ne ish. oss los flushed out. of thecom.- partxnonts. and on to the conveyor.- by a Stream of.- water played through the ton openings. through. which the compartments were loaded.-

the. Fie- 'l embodiment, as in the. otherv v embodiment, shown in Fia 6VJ in which. the oom par-Smeets lxsd; permanently in the. hol., the compartments are spaced from each otheraod. in sheet. jackets@ by .ioteroomrnunoatog spaces,- throueh which. a refrigerant may los oir:y Culated by the indi. tod at A, B., Ci and D in .ia 1.,. As. is shown Ela; "l, the iaolsoting may loe` shortened and omitted in. the region of the bonneuil, but oi coursey it would be a simple matter of design to extend the jaclgeting overI under and along the sides of.. the cannot if dosireci... ,For all. practical. purposes. however, .the arrangement show-.n in Fie. '7; will. be found Sotisf factory, since the roirieeratins. ofeot of iaolsets extending along the full extent of each of the foursido walls of. the shallow como.aftmsr1t-s 2,5 and'alone most oi; the. ares. of. the .four side walls oi each of the deeper compartments 26;,

is sufficient to keen all the lading in all the. oom.'- pertinents downto. adequately 10W tomneraturos.-

these iig-uros. it will loe. observed that each, of Such containers.. ooslsoatsd 4Q., is provided in the region oi its inside top. with a leges 4l trom which are nuns' a. sor-ies oi 4,2. which, are permanently secured to the onen mouth of. e

net. or has 43. which conforms generally in. shape and. .size to the container and which. lls it a sortof: lining. The container yis normally kopt covered by a removable. lid 44 and is lillod'by i dumping .and Water through the open mouth.

the described airaincoltelli.'-

asia-,ooe

7.1i ofthe bag. Theii'sh` are? discharged .by .remo'v--. ingithehooks 42.. from the. ledge I and gatheringffthem on to theihook 45 .of a cable 46 which ispulledl up by any suitable1winch,fboomvor the like'as'indicated in Fig.` 8. This `operation of course removes the fish andfleaves' thefwater in* the containers for re-use after the 'bags are replaced, lor the water. maybe pumped. out and replaced. Asnwillbe appreciated, a draw-'stringM maybe employed to close the mouth ofthe bag and to be engaged with jthehook .'45, or other.. means may be used to hangv the bag in the confI tainer and to cooperate inits removal therefronn` 'Ofcourse, lin this form ofthe invention,` as in all the others, the containers are jacketed by refrigerant which-is circulated between and" aroundthem in the hold. Fig. lillustrates a further modification.' Here the Acontainers 5B are more or less 'permanently v'secured inlsuperposed horizontal tiers in the hold, separated and supported'by fixed angle' irons 5lA and upper1 framing members 52 which provide spaces for a circulating refrigerant. The long dimension of each container is-horirlontal,A

and they are provided with inletand discharge' openings;l .In the illustrated structure, three tiers are shown, but of course this number may be increased or decreased 4for holds of diie'rent" depth;v Each upper tier container hasY 'an inlet opening'53, normally'closed-by afplug'54, and each Vupper tier container 'is penetrated by a vertical well passing completelythrough the co'n-l tainer and providing access to thel corresponding" ,opening of the container immediately beneath it.- Where the construction includes'three super-` posed containers,` as in Fig.- 10, the uppermost container is provided-with two such wells, and the intermediate containerl is provided with one such Well. .As vwill be understoodany larger numberof superposed containers will require ar correspondingV incr'easein thenumbe'r of wells;v all to the' end that the inlet opening of each, containr ,beneath 'those of the upper tier can be reached through the'containers which are above Thus, inthe illustrated embodiment,v each' upper container has a well55 covering the opening 55 ofthe immediately subjacent container.- and thislatter container'has' a well Ell-*registering with a second well 58 in the upper-container to provide access'to the opening 59vofthe lowermost container."

In order to keep refrigerant, which 'circulates through the spaces between the containers, from entering the containers, theseveral wellsI are sealed tothecontain'er walls, asfshown in the gilre.l

The plug- 54 sujilc'es'to'olose the inlet openingv 53 of 'eachfu'ppermost `container?The wellsrfof' this container aremclosed by `similar plugsr lill;l andthe wells contain lclosure plates 6l, each provided with an upstanding handle 62, for seal'- ing the inlet openings 56'and 59 of the 'lower'containers.` The uppermost l containers `mayfbe covered by'de'cking 63. Theco nta'.iner's."arearranged infbanksbuiltup against transverse bulk: heads 64 spaced to form a sump between them,"l directly beneath a 'hatchway Each container ha'saV 'discharge' opening through the adjacent bulkhead 6'4, which is '-'normally 'closed by 'a suitably gasketed dooror other cover 65. Thepartic'ular form of this closure 65fis not important* as Ilong ,asv it can be readily'opened jand closed l in.l watertight relation to itscontainer,

*Fishand water arev charged intdthe containers? S: through their. several inlet openings and are. discharged. by gravity, intothe sump,.after opening the doorsl 65. The material is removed from the sump, up through vthe hatchway, by any suitable means, such. as a marineleg, pump or 4Figui is vsimilar .to Fig. 1 but shows `diagram-1 matically vthe plan appearance of a hull.p'ro.`

videdwith the containerconstruotion shown'in Fig. .10, with the decking removed to showl the-f sump. It is to be understood that the refrigerat.` ing machinery, pumping machinery, and various connecting conduits explained in connectionA with Fig. "1 will be employed also in the Figs. 1U and.

11 construction. l

-lltlis` believed that the structure, usesand principal advantages of the hull provided by the present invention will, from the foregoing description.

nature of Vfresh iish in water comprising a plu` rality of watertight containers for the .lading,.

means mounting said containers in mutually spaced relation in the hull, top closures for the containers flush with each other and with the mounting means forming a substantially continuous deck, and means for circulating a refrigerant through the hull in heat-conductive relation to said containers.

f 2. A ships hull construction for a lading of the naturev of fresh fish in water comprising a plurality of 'independent and separately removable watertight containers for the lading, framing members viiXed in the hull structure separating thel containers, top'closures for the containers fiu'sli with each other and with the framing members forming a substantially continuous deck, and means for'circulating a refrigerant vthrough-the hull in heat-conductive relation to the containers.`

3. A ships hull construction for a lading of the nature of fresh fish in water comprising a hold, framing members fixed in the hold including horizontal beams mounted right angularly with relation toeach other in substantially the plane of a deck of the ship, and a plurality of independent watertight containers for the lading mounted inl, dependently of each other on and supported by the framing members with their lower portions depending into the hold vand .with closed tops' 'framing members cooperating therewith to form part of said deck, and means for circulating a refrigerant through the hold ini heat-jconductive relation to said containers.

ships hull construction for a ladingof the." nature'of freshiish iinwater lcomprising a plu-4 :rality y'of independent arrdseparately :removable watertight Acontainers for the lading, framing `members :xed in the hull lstructureseparating the containers, means `for Vcirculating ka refrig- `prant `through the .spaces separating the yconitainers, fcovers securedz to the containers, -and means fcarr'ied bythe covers for .separable :connection with Ia hoisting .hook for elevating Ythe containers individually from between :said 'fra/n1.-

ing members. y l

6. rA ships hull constructionor 1a :lading of the nature of Viresh sh in water :comprising fa plurality of independent 'and .separately removable Awatertightv containers for the lading, framing members iixed in the hull structure separating fthe containers, means for circulating-.a refrigerant thfrough the spaces "separating the containers, covers having portions permanently vsecured to .the containeraimeanscarried vby said ,portions of the covers y:for separable connection with a hoisting yhook for elevating the containers 'individually from vbet-.veen said framing members, and removable iclosures mounted in ports .in said portions of the covers through which the containers maybe loaded `when lin .place between :the framing ymembers `and unloaded-When removed therefrom, said closures being flush lwith eachother and with the covers and the framing members to form therewith a deck surface.

7. The structure claimed in claim 3, in which the framing membershave outwardlyrand downwardly beveled sides, and in which the `upper portions of the containers have complementally outwardly and-upwardly 'beveledsides seated on said sides of the framing members.

8. A shipshull .constructionfor a lading of 'the nature of fresh fish comprising .a compartment mounted .in `said hull, Asaid compartment 'being of uniform cross 4section throughout its vertical extent, a lported bottom..in.said compartment, :a plunger mounted in said compartment abovesaid ported bottom in lading-tight relation to the sides of the compartment, and meansfor introducing fluid under pressure through the ported bottom to elevate the plunger and thereby discharge lading from the top of the compartment.

9. A ships hull construction for a lading of the nature of fresh fish comprising a plurality of compartments mounted in said hull, each compartment being of uniform cross section throughout its vertical extent, a ported bottom in each compartment, a plunger mounted in each compartment above said ported bottom in ladingtight relation to the sides of the compartment,

and means for introducing fluid under pressure through the ported bottom to elevate the plunger and thereby discharge lading from the top of the compartment.

10. A ships hull construction for a lading of the nature of fresh fish comprising a plurality of compartments mounted in mutually spaced relation in said hull, each compartment being of uniform cross section throughout its vertical extent, means for circulating a refrigerant through the spaces separating said compartments, a ported bottom in each compartment, a plunger mounted in each compartment above said ported bottom in lading-tight relation to the sides of the compartment, and means for introducing iiuid under pressure through the ported bottom to elevate the plunger and thereby discharge lading from the top of the compartment.

11. A ships hull construction for a lading of the nature of fresh fish comprising a plurality of compartments mounted in said hull, each comliO partment being :of uniform 'cross' :section throughoutits vertical extent, a discharge #opening :Drovided in the top of each compartment adapte'd fto have va vdischarge conduit `connected thereto, a ported bottom in 4each compartment, a plunger :mounted in .each compartment `above lsaid ported bottom lading-tight irelation to thefsides "of the compartment, andmeans ;for introducing'fluid under pressure through the ported bottomto elevate 'the plunger and .thereby force lading from ythe compartment through the discharge conduit.

:12. A ships hull Vconstructi'im for Va lading of the nature of Vfresh fish comprising va plurality-of compartments mounted in said hull, veach compartment being of Vuniform cross section throughout itsfvertical extent, a discharge opening provided in the top of Ieach compartment adapted -to have a discharge lconduit zconnected thereto, a ported bottom in each' compartment, a plunger mounted in each compartment above said ported bottom .in lading-tight vrelation to lthe sides of the compartment, a uid pressure system includ`l ing pipes kconnected "to vthe several ported bottoms, and means for controlling independently the .pressure o'f iluid 1in said pipes whereby the several plungers may Avloe selectively'elevated and the Aseveral compartments selectively Adischarged through said dischargev conduits.

13. `A yships hull construction for a lading of the nature -of vfresh vsh comprising a plurality of compartmentsmounted in-said hull, each -compartment being of uniform crosssection throughout its vertical extent, a Adischarge opening provided in the Ltop of eachcompartment 4a ported bottom in each compartment, a plunger mounted in each compartment above said ported bottom in lading-tight relation to the sides of the Ycompartment, and means for introducing water under pressure 'through the ported r'bottom to eleuatesther .plunger and 'thereby f'force lading through the discharge opening, said plunger being adapted to pass a portion of said water for discharge with said lading.

14. A ships hull construction for a lading of the nature of fresh fish comprising a plurality of compartments mounted in said hull, each compartment being of uniform cross section throughout its vertical extent, a discharge opening provided in the top of each compartment, a ported bottom in each compartment, a plunger mounted in each compartment above said ported bottom in lading-tight relation to the sides of the compartment, means for introducing water under pressure through the ported bottom to elevate the plunger and thereby force lading through the discharge opening, and means cooperating with the plunger to pass water beyond the plunger and through the discharge opening when the plunger reaches the top of the compartment.

15. A ships hull construction for a lading of the nature of fresh fish comprising a, plurality of compartments mounted side by side and end to end in said hull, certain of said compartments being arranged in alignment and certain other compartments being arranged along the sides of said .line and extending deeper into the hull whereby a tunnel is formed beneath the first named compartments and between said other compartments, conveyor means located in said tunnel, and selectively openable closure means provided in the bottoms of the rst named compartments and in the adjacent side walls of said other compartments whereby lading from all 1l the compartmentsi'may beconducted selectively by gravityl into `said tunnel and on tol said conveyormeans. 16. A ships hull construction for a lading of the nature of fresh'z'fishr comprising a plurality'of compartments mounted `side by "side and Yend to end in said hull, certain? of saidcompartmentsl being arranged in alignment and certain other compartments '.being arranged in parallel lines -alongiopposite sides of said aligned compartments and extending deeper into'the hullwh'ereby` a tunnel is formed beneath the first namedicompartments and between plural lines' of 'said other compartments, conveyor vmeans located in'said tunnel; and selectively openable closure means provided in the bottoms'xof 'the rstinamed com-Y partments and, in the side walls yof said other compartments 'whereby' vlading from the frst named compartments'may be conducted 'selectively by gravity into saidy tunnel and on to said conveyor means and whereby lading from said other compartments may bey conducted laterally by gravityselectively through intervening opened closure means into said ,tunnel and on to said conveyor means. 'f f 17. A `ships hull construction for a lading of the nature of fresh fish comprising a plurality of compartments 4mounted' side by side and end to end in said hu1l,-mutually*intercommunicating jackets fixed in thehull structure -in heat-conductive relation yto the compartments, means for circulating a refrigerantthrough saidjackets, certain of said compartments being arranged in alignment and certain other compartments being arranged along the sides of said line and extending deeper into the hullwhereby a tunnel'is formed beneath the aligned compartments and between said 'other vcompartments;V conveyor means `located in said ntunnelyand selectively openable closure meansprovided in the bottoms of the aligned compartments and inthe adjacent 12 side wa1ls of 'said other compartments whereby lading from all the compartments may be conducted selectively by gravity into said tunnel and on tosaid conveyor means.

` 18. A ships hull construction for a lading of the nature of fresh sh comprising a plurality of l framing members fixed in the hull including spaced transverse beams and spaced Vertical stanchions forming a plurality of juxtaposed vertical wells and a plurality of independent, removable containers for the lading and pen-boards for partitioning the wells from each other receivable selectively in the wells.

19. A ships hull construction for a lading of the nature of fresh fish comprising a plurality of containers for the lading arranged in superposed tiers forming a plurality of` banks horizontally spaced apart to provide a sump between opposed banks, means mounting the containers .of each bank in mutually spaced relation for circulation of a refrigerant through the hull in heat conductive relation to the containers, normally closed inlet passageways in t'he containers of each lower tier accessible through wells formed in the container of each upper tier, and closures provided on the containers adapted to be opened for discharging the'lading into the sump.

. EDWARD H. COOLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IVEN'rs 

